Fruit juice extracting machine

ABSTRACT

A fruit juice extracting machine has a pair of opposing endless cup chains extending around a rotatable reamer wheel. The peel guide or retainer holds reamed peel halves in cup until ejector directs peel half into peel chute. A filler plate panel substantially closes off the reamer wheel to help to prevent the accumulation of stagnant juice or pulp. A peel chute behind the reamer wheel has a back surface with slotted opening to recover additional juice and pulp as the peels are ejected from the cup chain and collide against the back surface of the peel chute. The new cup track is a stiffer structure for maintaining the cup chain in proper engagement to the reamers, for improved yield and reduced wear. A full width bulkhead divides the juicing area from the peel chute area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of the present invention is fruit juice extracting machines.

Presently, there is much emphasis worldwide on fresh single strengthcitrus juice, as opposed to juices made from concentrate. Fresh juicesare typically not pasteurized and do not include preservatives.Consequently, sanitation in processing citrus juices is very important.To obtain adequate shelf life with fresh juices, bacteria in the juicemust be kept at a low level. However, juice extracting machines areoften run for e.g., 24 hours or more before they are stopped andcleaned. This allows stagnant juice and pulp to accumulate, leading toincreased bacteria in the juice. Juice and pulp can accumulate andstagnate on or in various internal components and spaces, and especiallyon horizontal areas, leading to excessive bacteria growth. Accordingly,processing fruit into fresh juice has required frequent stopping andcleaning the machines, e.g., every 8 hours, a time consuming andrelatively costly but necessary procedure. Cleaning these machines hasalso required removal of covers or other parts and effort intensive handcleaning.

A well known fruit juice extracting machine (Brown International Model700) is shown and described in Wells, U.S. Pat. No. 2,631,625,incorporated herein by reference. This fruit juice extracting machineincludes a vertically mounted rotary fruit feeder and hopper arranged tosupply citrus fruit to holding cups on a pair of opposing endless cupchains. The feeder delivers fruit to the cups in the cup chain whichmove towards each other and carry the fruit through a halving knife. Thesliced fruit halves are held into the cups by retainers or baffles asthe fruit halves are moved to a reamer wheel at the front of themachine. The vertically mounted reamer wheel has a plurality of radiallyspaced apart spinning reamers. As the cups holding fruit halves approachthe reamer wheel, they are guided towards each other by cup tracks andengage the spinning reamers, thereby extracting juice and pulp from thefruit halves. The juice and pulp fall towards to the bottom of themachine and are collected and removed from the machine.

The peel remains in the cups until the cups move away from the reamerwheel to a peel chute where a peel ejector ejects the peel from the cupsinto the peel chute. The peel ejected into the peel chute are collectedseparately from the juice and pulp, to avoid degrading juice qualitywith bitter peel oils. After peel ejection, the cups continue to thefruit feeder near the back of the machine to recommence the loading,slicing, reaming and ejection cycle. Although highly successful, thismachine can be difficult to clean, and it tends to allow some build upof stagnant juice or pulp. In addition, although highly efficient, ithas been found that some juice and pulp, released from the peels afterentering the peel chute, is not recovered.

This well known fruit juice extracting machine in various embodimentsand with various improvements is also shown and described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 2,631,625; 2,644,568; 3,342,314; 3,887,062; 4,421,021 and4,759,938, also incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improved fruit juice extractingmachine (Model 720) which can run for longer periods of time withsignificantly reduced amounts of stagnant juice or pulp buildup, andwhich may be easily cleaned, preferably with a built in spray cleaningsystem. The present invention is also directed to such a machine havingan improved yield. To these ends, the well known fruit juice extractingmachine (Model 700) is provided with a pair of cup tracks positioned onopposite sides of the reamer wheel. The cup tracks include a backingguide supporting its respective cup chain. A filler plate substantiallycovering over the sides of the reamer wheel is attached to a rampsurface joined to the cup tracks. The configuration of the cup tracks,having primarily vertical surfaces, inhibits pulp buildup. In addition,the cup track and ramp surface form a stiffer support structure for thecup chains for improved reaming yield with lower wear on the componentsof the machine. The peel chute includes spaced apart parallel bars atthe back surface, to allow any juice and pulp carried with the peels,within the peel chute, to pass out of the peel chute for collection. Abulkhead preferably extends substantially entirely across the width ofthe machine to separate a juicing area from a peel discharge area.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved fruit juice extracting machine. Other and further objects andadvantages will appear hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denotes similarelements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the well known (Model 700) fruit juiceextracting machine as described above;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the peel chute used in the machine shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view fragment of the present fruit juiceextracting machine;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view fragment thereof;

FIG. 5 is a plan view fragment thereof; and

FIG. 6 is a rear view fragment in part section thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning to FIG. 1, the well known (Model 700) fruit juice extractingmachine 10 includes a frame 12 for supporting various components. Forclarity of illustration and description, the covers on the juiceextractor 10, which are ordinarily in place and closed during use arenot shown. Similarly, the fruit feeder and hopper towards the rear juiceextractor 10, the exit chutes, motors, and various other knowncomponents, are similarly not shown. The principal operating features ofthe juice extractor 10 are substantially symmetrical from side to side,except for minor variations insignificant to the description of thepresent invention. Accordingly, the following description of thecomponents and operation primarily of the left side of the machines, asshown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5 apply to the right side of the machines aswell, the right side components being substantially mirror images of theleft side components shown in the figures.

Referring still to FIG. 1, a cup chain 14 is made up of a series of cups16 pivotally linked together. The cups ride in a cup track 18 in thedirection of the arrow in FIG. 1. The cup track 18 is formed in part bya backing plate 20 having welded gussets 36. The lower section of thecup track 18 forms a shelf 34 adjacent the reamer wheel 24. A peelretainer 22 is positioned between the backing plate 20 of the cup track18 and a reamer wheel 24. The open front faces of the cups 16 slidealong the peel retainer 22 which retains fruit halves in the cups 16while the cups move away from the reamer wheel 24.

The reamer wheel 24 is supported on a reamer wheel axle 30 which isturned via chains and sprockets by an electric motor. Reamers 26 areradially spaced apart from each other on both vertical flat sides of thereamer wheel 24. An internal gearing system, separate from the reamerwheel axle 30, rotates the reamers 26 at an appropriate speed anddirection. Drive pegs 28 on both sides of the reamer wheel 24 engagedrive holes in the cup chain 14 to maintain alignment of the cups 16 andreamers 26, and to pull the cup chain 14 through the juice extractor 10.The cup tracks 18 are moved together or apart by a screw mechanism andpneumatic cylinder, to adjust the depth of engagement of the reamers 26into the cups 16, as well as the force of engagement.

A peel chute 50 is positioned in between the cup chains, behind thereamer wheel 24, adjacent structural members 46 and 48. As shown in FIG.2, the peel chute 50 is fabricated from sheet metal and has a generallyflat front surface 52, a hook 54 and flat sheet metal sides 56 and 58,and back surface 60. The hook 54 is used to hang the peel chute 50 inposition in the juice extractor 10. During cleaning, the covers on thejuice extractor 10 are opened and the peel chute 50 is lifted out fromthe top of the juice extractor 10 for cleaning.

Behind the peel chute 50 are idlers 38 rotating on an idler axle 44. Theidlers 38 support and guide the cup chains 14 as they move toward andaway from the fruit loading and slicing stations (not shown) at the backof the juice extractor 10. Each idler 38 has a rim 40 forming a space42. The area generally designated A in FIG. 1 is open. Juice and pulpextracted during reaming can accumulate on the shelf 34, structuralmember 46, and on other surfaces, including in the space 42 in theidlers 38. The foregoing juice extractor 10 design is well known in theart.

Turning now to FIG. 3, as shown therein, the present juice extractor100, has a cup track 106, somewhat similar to the cup track 18 shown inFIG. 1. A backing guide 110 on the cup track 106 is joined to a sideplate 112 through a generally continuous ramp surface 114. A cup trackfiller plate 108 attached flush with the side plate 112 helps to keepjuice near the reamer wheel. The cup chain 14 passes in between thebacking guide 110 and a peel retainer 102. Compared to the peel retainer22 shown in FIG. 1, the peel retainer 102, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, istruncated. The front end 104 of the peel retainer 102 extends forward ofthe center line of rotation 128 of the reamer wheel 24 only a relativelyshort distance or angle "a" e.g., coveting a sector of about 35°, aroundthe reamer wheel 24. In contrast, the peel retainer 22 extends in asector of approximately 90° around the reamer wheel 24. Peel retainer102 allows the machine 100 to be more easily cleaned.

Idlers 120 include a cover plate 124 forming a flat substantiallyvertical surface 122, thereby eliminating the space 42 shown in FIG. 1.

Armatures 126 on each cup track 106 extend forward and are engaged by apneumatic cylinder to control reamer engagement force, as is well knownin the art.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a bulkhead 116 extends between top andbottom of cup tracks 106 and across substantially the entire width ofthe juice extractor 100. The bulkhead is preferably a fabricated metalassembly made thick enough to include hardware or fittings which providefor the pivotable attachment of the cup tracks to the bulkhead. Aplastic upper bulkhead 116a may also be provided. The back surface 118of the bulkhead 116 acts as the forward surface of the peel chute 130.The left and right sides of the peel chute 130 are also solid panels ofsheet metal. However, the rear wall of the peel chute 130 is formed ofspaced apart bars 134, as shown in FIG. 6. As peels are ejected from thecups and collide with the bars 134, small but significant amounts ofjuice and pulp are ejected from the peels and passed through the spacesor gaps 142 between the bars 134, and pass into the juice/pulpcollection trough 136. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, fingers 138 at thebottom of the peel chute 130 direct the peels to the left side (whenviewing the machine from the front) and out of the machine forcollection.

As shown in FIG. 5, a prong 132 on the idler 120 continuously scrapespulp off of the idler axle. Drain holes 140 are provided in the top cuptrack.

In operation, as the juice extractor 100 reams the fruit halves, pulpand juice fly about within the machine 100 and eventually fall or dripdown to the collection trough 136. As shown in FIG. 3, the cup trackfiller plate 108 substantially closes off the reamer wheel 24, and hasprimarily vertical surfaces to prevent accumulation of pulp. Inaddition, the cup track 106 also has relatively smooth contours with aminimum of recessed or hidden areas, so that there is little opportunityfor stagnant juice or pulp to accumulate, and so that it may be readilycleaned. During operation, pulp may temporarily accumulate at variouslocations, and then fall off for collection in the trough 136, due tothe increasing weight of the pulp accumulation or other factors. Suchtemporary accumulations do not significantly effect juice quality asthey do not remain long enough for significant bacteria growth. On theother hand "permanent" accumulations remain in place until the machineis cleaned. The design of the cup track 106 reduces "permanent"accumulations of pulp.

The cup track 106 also provides a stiffer structure than the known cuptrack 18 shown in FIG. 1, which is believed to provide a better yield byreducing undesired displacement of the cups 16 as they engage thereamers 26. The stiffer structure of the of the cup track 106 alsoallows the extractor 100 to operate with less force urging the armatures126 together (i.e., specifically, less air pressure in the pneumaticcylinder.) For example, with the prior art extractor 10, the pneumaticactuator is typically supplied with compressed air at 130 psi, to urgethe cup tracks 20 together, and hold the reamer cups into the reamers.On the other hand, the present juice extractor 100, as shown in FIG. 3,can operate with only 100 psi supplied to the pneumatic cylinder to urgethe armatures 126 together, while providing an equivalent yield.Operation with lower air pressure reduces wear on various components ofthe machine 100, such as the reamers 26, cups and cup chain 16 and theirrelated drive train and support components. Accordingly, the machine 100experiences less down time and longer useful operating life. Inaddition, the lower pressure also reduces the amount of bitter peel oilsreleased with the juice and pulp during reaming. The cup track 106 withthe filler plate 108 also tends to guide juice and pulp more directly tothe collection trough 136.

Turning to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the open spaces 142 in between the peelchute bars 134 at the rear of the peel chute 130 improve yield byallowing juice and pulp to escape from the peel chute 130. In addition,the side walls of the peel chute 130 are positioned to allow any juiceon the cups to drip into juice collection areas, and not down the peelchute 130. As a peel is ejected from the cups, it is thrown toward theback wall of the peel chute 130, i.e., against the peel chute bars 134.Any hanging pulp, rag and free juice passes through the peel chute bars134 upon impact of the peel half, and is directed into the juice trough136 for recovery. The peels exiting the machine 100 are accordinglysignificantly drier than with the prior an machine.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the extractor 10, the broad flat surface52 of the removable peel chute 50 rests against a supporting member,creating "trapped areas" where pulp can accumulate. This trapped pulp isremoved only when the machine 10 is stopped and opened up for cleaning,with the peel chute 50 being temporarily removed from the machine 10.The present extrator 100, on the other hand, is cleaned without removalof any components, and has few, if any, trapped areas. This allows forfaster and easier cleaning.

Referring to FIG. 4, the short peel retainer will tend to gently guide apeel half that may be misaligned. In the juice extractor 10 shown inFIG. 1, the peel retainer 22 extends entirely down to the armature area.Peels of misaligned fruit halves can disadvantageously be abraded orcompressed against the peel retainer, releasing peel oils. The peelretainer 102 facilitates cleanup by substantially removing the wedgeangle space (which tends to accumulate large amounts of pulp) betweenthe backing guide 110 and peel retainer 22 in the prior an machine 10shown in FIG. 1.

The juice extractor 10 may be upgraded to the present improved juiceextractor 100 with a retrofit kit including the left and right side cuptracks 106; cup track filler plates 108; peel retainers 102; idlers 120;the bulkhead 116; rear peel chute 134 and peel chute side panels.

Thus, a fruit juice extraction machine is disclosed which providesimproved performance. While embodiments and applications of thisinvention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that many more modifications are possible withoutdeparting from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore,is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a fruit juice extracting machine of the typehaving a pair of opposing endless cup chains extending around a reamerwheel rotatable about a horizontal axis and having a plurality of spacedapart reamers for reaming fruit halves contained in cups on the cupchains, the improvement comprising:a pair of cup tracks positionedadjacent to and on either side of the reamer wheel, each cup trackhaving a backing guide, a ramp surface adjoining the backing guide, anda side plate adjoining the ramp surface and substantially closing offone side of the reamer wheel; and a bulkhead adjoining the cup tracks.2. The fruit juice extracting machine of claim 1 wherein the cup chainsand reamer wheel are positioned to form a fruit half engagement sectorof approximately 90 degrees wherein the reamers move into and engage thefruit halves, further comprising a truncated peel retainer positioned inbetween each cup chain and the reamer wheel, and extending for an arc ofless than about 45 degrees into the engagement sector.
 3. The fruitjuice extracting machine of claim 2 wherein the truncated peel retainerextends for an arc of about 35 degrees into the engagement sector. 4.The fruit juice extracting machine of claim 1 further comprising a peelchute spaced apart from the reamer wheel.
 5. The fruit juice extractingmachine of claim 4 wherein the bulkhead separates the peel chute fromthe reamer wheel.
 6. The fruit juice extracting machine of claim 4wherein the peel chute includes a rear surface having a plurality ofopenings.
 7. The fruit juice extracting machine of claim 6 wherein theplurality of openings are formed by a plurality of spaced apart bars. 8.The fruit juice extracting machine of claim 1 further comprising afiller plate attached to and flush with the side plate.
 9. The fruitjuice extracting machine of claim 1 further comprising an idler wheelsupporting each cup chain, with each idler wheel including a coverplate.
 10. The fruit juice extracting machine of claim 9 furthercomprising a prong on each idler wheel extending towards an idler axlesupporting the idler wheel.
 11. The fruit juice extracting machine ofclaim 1 wherein the bulkhead extends between the top and bottom of thecup tracks, and substantially across the width of the juice extractor.12. The fruit juice extracting machine of claim 1 wherein the rampsurface is flat.
 13. In a fruit juice extracting machine of the typehaving a pair of opposing endless cup chains, a reamer wheel rotatableabout a horizontal axis and having a plurality of spaced apart reamersfor reaming fruit halves contained in cups on the cup chain, theimprovement comprising:a pair of cup tracks positioned on opposite sidesof the reamer wheel, each cup track comprising a backing guide, a rampattached to the backing guide, and a side plate attached to the ramp; abulkhead adjoining the cup tracks; and a filler plate attached flushwith the side plate, over an opening in the side plate.
 14. The fruitjuice extracting machine of claim 13 wherein the cup tracks, bulkhead,and filler plate have substantially no horizontal surfaces facing thereamer wheel.